Open Air Business April 2017
The UK's outdoor hospitality business magazine for function venues, glampsites, festivals and outdoor events
The UK's outdoor hospitality business magazine for function venues, glampsites, festivals and outdoor events
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FUNCTION VENUES<br />
MUTA<br />
TRADITIONAL MARQUEE<br />
Traditional marquees go<br />
under a number of names -<br />
pole tents, soft tops (not to<br />
be confused with big tops<br />
or circus tents), or guyed<br />
marquees. This style of<br />
marquee has vertical timber<br />
‘king poles’ running down the<br />
centre line of the structure,<br />
vertical ‘wall poles’ around<br />
the perimeter, and guy ropes<br />
that run from the top of the<br />
wall poles to the ground,<br />
creating tension in the roof<br />
fabric.<br />
They all have one thing<br />
in common in that the main<br />
structural element is the<br />
cover itself. Most traditional<br />
marquees use cotton based<br />
fabrics as the covering, but<br />
PVC coated polyester is<br />
popular too. While traditional<br />
marquees can be as wide<br />
as 120 feet, most hirers will<br />
switch to frame marquees for<br />
widths above 40 or 50 feet (12<br />
or 15 metres).<br />
Traditional marquees are<br />
a popular choice for private<br />
functions and events such<br />
as agricultural shows and<br />
village fêtes. The combination<br />
of the traditional look and<br />
feel of pole tents and the<br />
breathability of natural fibres<br />
means that this type of tent<br />
is still as popular as ever and<br />
still represents a significant<br />
slice of the market in the UK.<br />
Over recent years, we<br />
have seen the introduction<br />
of American traditional and<br />
sailcloth tents, which add an<br />
interesting visual dimension<br />
to this sector.<br />
Know Your<br />
Structure<br />
A rundown of temporary demountable<br />
structures for functions from MUTA, the<br />
UK's only trade association dedicated to<br />
marquees, tents and structures<br />
FRAME MARQUEE<br />
Frame marquees, where a<br />
semi rigid frame provides the<br />
structural stability, mostly use<br />
synthetic fabrics as a covering<br />
so as to avoid the problems<br />
created by shrinkage and<br />
expansion of natural fibres.<br />
Frames can be of wood,<br />
steel or aluminium tubing<br />
or, as is the case with most<br />
modern frames, box section<br />
aluminium. This latter type<br />
is often referred to as a ‘clear<br />
span’ structure and can be<br />
up to 50 metres wide with no<br />
intermediate pole supports<br />
(hence the name).<br />
The uninterrupted internal<br />
space of frame structures<br />
makes them very popular for<br />
a wide variety of events from<br />
private functions, through<br />
corporate hospitality to large<br />
exhibitions.<br />
Because they have a solid<br />
frame this type of marquee<br />
can accept a higher level of<br />
accessories, such as doors,<br />
windows, rigid side panels<br />
and sophisticated flooring<br />
systems. Consequently, the<br />
move, of late, has been to an<br />
ever-increasing standard of<br />
finish and comfort, so much<br />
so that many guests do not<br />
realise that they are actually<br />
in a marquee. This level of<br />
sophistication, together with<br />
their structural stability, has<br />
encouraged the recent trend<br />
to extend the traditional<br />
marquee season beyond the<br />
summer into the autumn<br />
and, indeed, the industry now<br />
erects marquees 12 months of<br />
the year.<br />
Not all frame structures are<br />
inherently safe and there are<br />
many ‘home made’ varieties<br />
out there in the market place<br />
that are neither safe nor<br />
attractive. While standards for<br />
structural stability do exist, it<br />
is difficult for the authorities<br />
to police all events,<br />
particularly those on private<br />
property. MUTA members are<br />
obliged to follow the correct<br />
standards.<br />
GIANT STRUCTURE<br />
(OVER 30M WIDE)<br />
Generally defined as large span<br />
aluminium frame or tensioned<br />
pole tents that are in excess<br />
of 25 metres wide. These can<br />
be 30/40/50 metre span frame<br />
tents, usually needing the aid<br />
of telescopic plant or cranes<br />
to erect and dismantle. These<br />
are specialised structures<br />
and only very few hirers are<br />
competent to deliver them<br />
safely.<br />
MULTI-DECK STRUCTURES<br />
Multi-deck structures can<br />
be either double, triple or<br />
quad level structures. The<br />
top floor is of a standard<br />
clear span aluminium frame<br />
design with the lower floors<br />
being constructed from an<br />
integral steel upright and<br />
horizontal beam system. As<br />
with giant structures, these<br />
are specialised structures<br />
and only very few hirers are<br />
competent to deliver them<br />
safely.<br />
18 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM